Nigeria filed new charges against Pfizer on Monday, seeking ,95-billion over the deaths of children who received an unapproved drug during a meningitis epidemic. The suit came after a separate court delayed two cases in which Pfizer is accused by the state of Kano of harming Nigerian children by testing them with the antibiotic Trovan in 1996.
Zimbabwe on Tuesday raised electricity tariffs by more than 50% as it battles worsening power shortages in the country and a vicious inflation spiral which has increased economic hardships. Zimbabwe — which has been grappling with chronic power shortages over the last two years — has suffered severe blackouts in the last few days.
Just in case anyone should desire such a thing, a South Korean firm has filed a patent in the United States for a musical washing machine. The design for a machine with a built-in MP-3 player and speakers "is just a concept art but we have the technology to produce a washing machine that makes little noise", LG Electronics spokesperson Kim Hyung-Jong said.
Australian protesters held a ”picnic rally” against the logging of native forests while hundreds of Indian policemen swapped guns for spades on Tuesday to highlight World Environment Day. Across Asia, people learned about worm farming and listened to lectures about renewable energy.
Unions appealed on Tuesday to striking public servants to remain disciplined after clashes at schools and hospitals in some provinces. ”The unions are doing everything possible to make action peaceful, disciplined and legal and condemn any attempts to use violence and intimidation,” said Congress of South African Trade Unions spokesperson Patrick Craven.
Radio and television personality Manu Padayachee died in his sleep in the early hours of June 5 in Johannesburg. His girlfriend Feroza Kathrada said Padayachee, who had been receiving treatment for an upper respiratory tract infection, died peacefully shortly before 4am.
New Zealand flanker Jerry Collins has recovered from a heel injury and will take his place in the pack for the second Test against France in Wellington on Saturday. All Blacks coach Graham Henry made six changes to the side that routed the inexperienced French party 42-11 at Auckland’s Eden Park last weekend.
Coca-Cola said on Tuesday it will reduce the amount of water used to produce its beverages and put more effort into recycling the water it uses in manufacturing. Coke, which along with its bottlers used 290-billion litres of water for beverage production last year, said it would make a -million commitment to the WWF.
No country in the world has been able to flout international law as much as Israel in the four decades since the Six Day War. Speaking at a reception for Arab ambassadors posted to Pretoria, South Africa’s Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad said the international community had failed the Palestinian people by not putting an end to the occupation of their land.
United States President George Bush on Monday flew to Europe where he will confront Russian President Vladimir Putin over US plans to base a new missile defence system in former Russian satellite countries. Bush and Putin are set for a showdown at the G8 summit in Germany where they are due to hold bilateral talks.